This article was originally published on Critter Science.

A fascinating and iconic flightless bird, the southern brown kiwi, aka tokoeka or common kiwi, hails from the south island of New Zealand. Like other species of kiwi, these birds face the ongoing threat of the impact of introduced varieties of predators such as stoats, dogs, cats, ferrets, and brushtail […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The plecostomus, aka suckermouth catfish or common pleco, are members of the armored catfish family (Loricariidae), named for the rows of armor-like scutes that cover the upper parts of their head and body. Even though their name Hypostomus plecostomus is typically used in reference to the common plecostomus that is […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The woma python, aka Ramsay’s python, the sand python, or the woma, is like all pythons, a constrictor, and therefore not venomous. They hail from a majority of Australia. They face the threats of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of the farming practice of cropping (cutting, trimming, or […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The flame robin, aka robin redbreast, is a small sized passerine bird native to southeastern Australia. While not closely related to either the European or American robins, they do appear to be an early offshoot of the Passerida group of songbirds. These birds face the threat of habitat loss due […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Asian citrus psyllid is a sap-sucking, hemipteran bug and 1 of 2 confirmed vectors of citrus greening disease. They hail originally from Asia. However, they have been introduced to North America, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Oceania, and Africa. These pests are both an insect and a “true […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The side-striped jackal has a far wider distribution than the well known black-backed jackal. They hail from central and southern Africa. These canines face the threat of retaliatory killings due to their propensity of killing poultry and small animals. They are often trapped, shot, or poisoned as a result. Jackals […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Indian vulture, aka long-billed vulture, is an Old World vulture hailing from India and Pakistan. Their population has dramatically declined since 1980. They face the threats of habitat loss and destruction as a result of mining and quarrying. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac, that is used to treat […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The bat sea star, aka bat star, broad-disk star, sea bat, webbed star, usually has 5 arms, but they can have as many as 9 arms. These sea stars face the threat of sea star wasting disease (SSWD) which causes lesions to form on the body, that eventually decay, causing […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Mexican honey wasp is beneficial in that it’s used by humans to control aphids, Asian citrus psyllids, and weevils, as well as to pollinate avocados. Due to their production of sweet, floral honey, their nests are historically harvested and destroyed by indigenous and rural communities in Mexico and Central/South […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Costa Rican variable harlequin toad, aka clown frog, is a rapidly declining species of true toad hailing from Quepos, Costa Rica. They once numbered in the 100s along individual streams. Now their existence hangs on by a thread. These toads face the threats of habitat loss and destruction at […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.